Ever since its creation, the Family Enterprise
Institute has expressed the need to promote
the creation of Family Business Chairs,
particularly
in public universities, based on the neglect
that family business as a subject has suffered
from in terms of university study programmes.
Incorporating family business as a subject in
university study programmes represents a step
forward in bringing universities closer to the
realities of the business world in Spain, the
survival of which depends in part on the training
received by entrepreneurs, managers and the entire
group of people and institutions involved in
family business.
The concept of the Family Business Chair
The collaboration model that the
Family Enterprise Institute hopes to undertake with
universities entails the creation of these chairs
and the definition of an educational programme that
embraces the development of three elements: the implementation
of family business as a subject, whether optional
or free-choice, with a teaching component of 60 hours;
the development of postgraduate programmes, and research
on the family-owned business.
Given the multidisciplinary nature of the subject
matter, it could be taught in coordination with study
programmes already drawn up by faculties such as
Business Administration and Management, Law, Economics
and Psychology.
The first action taken by the Institute in this respect
was to sign of an agreement with the University of
Barcelona to create the Family Business Chair, which
began functioning during the 1998-1999 academic year
through its incorporation as a free-choice subject
in the second year undergraduate course in Business
Administration and Management. Since that time, sixteen
new Family Business Chairs have been created in various
Spanish universities.
The role of the Family Enterprise
Institute
The Institute serves as an element
of coordination in the activities undertaken by the
different chairs, guaranteeing homogeneity and quality
of content as well as the quality of the professionals
and academics who participate in the teaching programmes.
In this regard, it is worth noting the collaboration
agreement with Professor Ivan Lansberg, one of the
most outstanding figures in this subject matter,
which guarantees an academic and training structure
of international stature.
Collectives at which these programmes
are directed:
- First and second-year undergraduate
students, preferably those studying Business Administration
and Management.
- Third-year or postgraduate students.
- Family members, whether involved in the family
enterprise or not.
- Managers and professionals interested in working
in a family enterprise.
- Family business consultants.
University collaboration models:
- Universities which the IEF endows with direct economic
sponsorship.
- Universities which the IEF indirectly sponsors
via the Regional Associations by means of a tripartite
agreement.
- Universities that have incorporated a Family Business
Chair at their own initiative and have joined the
Network.
- Universities that have an interest in family business
with which, although they collaborate with the Network,
there is no formal collaboration agreement.
Instituto de la Empresa Familiar
Pza. Independencia, 8 4º izda - 28001 Madrid - Phone: 91 523 04 50 - Fax:
91 523 28 68
Desing and Programming: TEQUILA SPAIN
Contact Details:
Headquarters in Barcelona: Avda. Diagonal, 469 3º 2ª
08036 Barcelona
Phone : 93 363 35 54
Fax: 93 419 71 57
E-mail:iefbcn@iefamiliar.com
